The Silk Roads by Private Jet

Take your business class seat aboard a high-speed train. As we race across Uzbekistan’s landscape, watch the passing scenery unfold as we make our way between the historic cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. We pause for lunch in the Central Asian city, before stretching our legs during a walking tour which takes in some of Bukhara’s holy sites. From our vantage point within a vast courtyard, we see Kalon Mosque, the Kalon Minaret, and the Miri-i-Arab Madrassah. Close by, we find the Magoki Attori Mosque, while in the heart of the Old Town, we visit the Jewish Quarter. 

We stay for the first of two nights at the modern Wyndham Bukhara Hotel. Enjoy your choice of dining, either at our hotel, or at one of Bukhara’s local restaurants.

Bukhara’s architecture is on show today, as we are brought to several of its noteworthy sites. The Ismail Samani Mausoleum is the 10th-century resting place of the Ismael Samani, the founder of the Persian Samanid Dynasty. The Bolo Hauz Mosque, meanwhile, seen with its roof supported by its distinctive pillars, hosts Muslims for Friday prayers. Bukhara’s oldest structure, the Ark Citadel, is known as a royal town within a town and was home to Bukhara’s rulers for more than a thousand years. We also pay a visit to the mysterious, underground Zindan Prison and see the hyperboloid structure of the Shukov Water Tower. 

After pausing for lunch at a local restaurant, a choice of Your World experiences is available:

— Be invited into the home of a local musician for a recital of traditional shashmaqom folk music. A fusion of various Persian and Turkic styles, the music of shashmaqom is supported by a large percussive tambourine, known as a doira, as well as a two-stringed instrument that is similar to a lute.

— Visit the Jewish Quarter, including the local synagogue and Jewish cemetery, for an in-depth examination of the history of Bukharan Jews. 

Enjoy the afternoon on your terms, with time for independent exploration or to simply relax at our hotel. 

Tonight, we are guests of honour during a private tour and exclusive VIP dinner at the Emir’s Summer Palace. Accompanied by the resident peacocks and peahens, stroll the grounds and pavilions, which surround a large pool fringed by rose gardens.

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Georgia. Enjoy lunch aboard our private jet before arriving in the cosmopolitan city of Tbilisi. Check into the majestic Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, before taking your pick of the city’s many fine restaurants, or relax and dine within our hotel.

Making our way to Tbilisi’s oldest church, we see a modest brick structure which has been rebuilt several times, owing to various regional wars. The Anchiskhati Basilica once housed a 12th-century icon of Christ which was removed 500 years later to protect it from the invading Ottoman Turks. It now resides within the Georgian Art Museum. Close by, we find Erekle II pedestrian street, one of the city’s cultural focal points. The many restaurants, cafes and bars here offer a discernible contrast to the region’s ancient spiritual sites. We then continue to Sioni Cathedral, notable for being the resting place of several of Georgia’s Catholic patriarchs. It also houses the revered St Nino’s Cross. While here, admire its Georgian architecture and elaborate frescoes. 

After lunch, enjoy a choice of Your World experiences:

— Stroll the vineyard and grounds of the majestic Château Mukhrani, once owned by Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni. Wander the halls of the prince’s castle and savour wines made from French and Georgian grapes. Afterwards, visit Tsilkani Cathedral, one of Georgia’s earliest churches. 

— Visit Tbilisi State Academy of Arts. See its elaborate hall of mirrors, created by Iranian artists in the 19th century. From here, head to the Gabashvili House to see its intricate façade, a result of combining baroque and rococo styles by the architect Korneli Tatishchev. Meet the owners of the house, a local museum curator and an artist, and hear the fascinating history of their home. Afterwards, see the many artisanal handicrafts on display at Gallery 27. 

You may prefer to explore Tbilisi on your own or simply relax at our hotel.

More of Tbilisi’s heritage is ripe for discovery today, with a choice of full-day or afternoon Your World experiences:

— This full-day experience will see you venturing by 4WD to Georgia’s border with Azerbaijan for a visit to the David Gareja Monastery. Located within a semi-desert region, close to the coloured hills of Mravaltskharo, the complex consists of 12 ancient cave monasteries skilfully carved into the hillside around the sixth century. By the 12th century, up to 2,000 monks were said to be living here. 

— Spend the day exploring Georgia’s eastern villages, including the charming town of Signagi. Trace its 18th-century fortifications and wander cobbled lanes, past pastel houses that overlook the Alazani River Valley at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 

— After a leisurely morning, head to Tbilisi Wine Museum. Georgia is generally considered to be the cradle of winemaking, and the museum’s exhibits support this, with 8,000 years of winemaking history on display. 

Alternatively, take the day on your own schedule. Wander Tbilisi’s Old Town, where hillside houses offer uncommon perspectives of spirited streets. Of course, you’re also welcome to relax at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.  

This evening presents a choice of the city’s culinary hotspots.

Our jet traverses Georgia’s border with Türkiye and soon touches down in Kayseri, gateway to Cappadocia. After pausing for lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant, we proceed to Kaymakli Underground City. Here, we explore sprawling tunnels, intricate rooms and public gathering places carved from volcanic rock. Four of the city’s eight floors are accessible, reaching a depth of 40 metres. Although its exact origins are unknown, the city was used as a haven for Christians fleeing religious persecution as far back as the fourth century. Later this afternoon, we are enthralled during a special Whirling Dervish Ceremony. Take the opportunity to savour the delicacies of the region on your own terms this evening. We spend the night at Argos in Cappadocia, which lies on the site of an ancient monastery. The boutique cave hotel perfectly complements the ethereal landscapes of its surrounds.

Those who rise early today will be rewarded with spectacular aerial perspectives of the region while drifting across the morning sky aboard a hot air balloon. Watch as the sunrise lights up the fairy chimneys, cave houses, valleys and vineyards of the Cappadocian landscape. Return to our hotel for breakfast, before we transfer to Kayseri’s airport. A short flight then delivers us to Istanbul, an important stop along the Silk Roads. From here, we transfer to the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, located in Istanbul’s historic centre of Sultanahmet. Having made ourselves at home, we reconvene to meet our privately chartered motor yacht for a cruise of the Bosphorus Strait. Absorb views of lavish waterfront palaces, grand mosques and extravagant yachts. After coming ashore, we rendezvous for a private dinner at the Sait Halim Pasha Manion. The magnificent venue’s 19th-century Ottoman facade stands proud along the shores of the Bosphorus. We then spend the first of three nights at our stylish neoclassical residence.

We begin our day in this historic city by exploring some of the wonders of the ancient world. Starting at the Hippodrome, we look upon the site where a vast arena once hosted Byzantine emperors who gathered there to be entertained by chariot races. At the Blue Mosque, we are held spellbound by this famed masterpiece which combines traditional Islamic and Byzantine architecture. A short walk then brings us to the magnificent Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, constructed in the sixth century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Admire Hagia Sophia’s colossal dome from an alternate angle during lunch at Matbah Restaurant. 

This afternoon, Your World experiences allow us to continue our deep dive into the local culture:

— Take part in the ancient practice of hammam bathing. In Türkiye, hammams are as much a visual spectacle as they are a cleansing ritual for body and mind. As part of an exclusive tour, we visit the exemplary Hurrem Sultan Hammam, which dates to the 16th century, and was designed and built by Mimar Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. 

— Wander Istanbul’s laneways and bazaars, tasting your way across town, courtesy of a rich assortment of local street food.  Our journey is perfectly timed for you to browse the stalls of Kadiköy Market, which only opens on Tuesdays. Afterwards, strike up a conversation with one of the local fishermen perched along Galata Bridge, then fuel up for the journey back to the hotel with some tasty baklava.   

Of course, you’re always free to explore the city at leisure or enjoy free time at our hotel.

Dine at our hotel’s restaurant this evening or at one Istanbul’s many quality establishments.

After breakfast, we head out to make the most of our final day in Istanbul. We descend beneath the city to the Underground Cistern, where we walk among its 336 columns and discover the two giant stone heads of Medusa. Our travels then take us to the grand Topkapi Palace. Now a museum, it served as the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. Here, the imperial treasury is on display. Consisting of artwork, jewellery and other heirlooms, the treasury’s collection is vast. While here, we also admire extensive collections of Chinese porcelain and calligraphy. 

Consider the treasures we have just witnessed while stopping for lunch. We then round out our Istanbul discovery with a final Your World experience:

— Head to the Grand Bazaar, the vast and legendary covered market that is the world’s biggest souk with nearly 4000 shops. Peruse an extraordinary range of wares, including ceramics, tea, spices and jewellery.

— Familiarise yourself with the art and archaeology of the region. Visits to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, as well as the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, further advance our entry into the ancient world, with exhibits ranging from manuscripts and miniatures to perfectly preserved funerary monuments.   

You may prefer to relax on your final day in Türkiye or set out to explore on your own terms.

Tonight, we come together to celebrate our remarkable journey during a Farewell Dinner.

After a final breakfast, we transfer to the airport for a late-morning flight to Dubai. Back aboard our private jet, a delicious gourmet lunch and fine wines are served. During our flight, replay your favourite memories of our time in these extraordinary cities; the treasures of the Silk Roads are sure to remain with you for some time to come.